Hashim Thaci elected President of Kosovo (dailies)
After a lengthy session and in the backdrop of opposition protests, coalition parties’ MPs elected the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Hashim Thaci the new president of Kosovo. Thaci managed to get elected in the third round of voting and received 71 out of 61 required for the election. In the first two rounds, a presidential candidate needs to win two-thirds of the vote with Thaci winning only 51 in the first round and 64 in the second. Earlier in the session, representatives of the opposition parties voiced their vehement objection to Thaci’s election saying he was responsible for plunging Kosovo into deep poverty, isolation, crime and corruption. After their speeches, opposition MPs released tear gas in the Assembly chamber in an effort to prevent Thaci’s election and were expelled from the session while thousands of their supporters outside the Assembly began throwing Molotov cocktails as Thaci’s voting went underway. Koha Ditore highlights that the necessary quorum for Thaci’s election was provided by Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) including certain MPs who kept on insisting they would not enable the quorum. At the same time, other LDK MPs, most notably Vjosa Osmani, Anton Cuni, Shpetim Bulliqi, Hatim Baxhaku and Adem Salihaj were not present in the Assembly session. Zeri meanwhile reports that Thaci is the fourth President of Kosovo but the first one to be elected amidst Molotov cocktail attacks, tear gas and arrest of opposition MPs.
Delawie and Jahjaga congratulate Thaci on his election (Koha Ditore)
The US ambassador to Kosovo Greg Delawie hailed election of Hashim Thaci President of Kosovo. “We will continue the strong relationship with the people of Kosovo,” said Delawie who condemned the use of tear gas by the opposition during the Assembly session. President Atifete Jahjaga also congratulated Thaci on his election as her successor. Jahjaga expressed commitment to a successful transition in line with the Constitution of Kosovo and democratic norms.
EU concerned with the way Thaci got elected president (Koha)
In a brief statement, the office of the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini said the Hashim Thaci got elected President of Kosovo amid a tense and divisive atmosphere. “The scenes we have witnessed yesterday in the Assembly on such occasion are extremely worrying,” the statement reads adding that acts of violence are unacceptable while inflammatory rhetoric only deepens the divide. “We expect political leaders of Kosovo to act responsible and to collectively calm down the tensions.”
Opposition parties pledge to continue protests (Zeri)
In a press conference right after election of Hashim Thaci to the post of Kosovo president, leaders of Vetevendosje, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) pledged to continue protesting until early elections are announced. They said Thaci’s election is proof that an authoritarian regime is being installed in Kosovo and that he doesn’t represent even the spirit of the coalition parties.
